How have your 'Leaps of Faith' worked out?

[tay314]

OEL and Haburn for me.

There wasn’t, and still isn’t, a lot about Oliver’s work on here. What cinched it for me was a respected knife maker sharing that he’s a customer of Oliver’s.

Haburn because his knives are expensive and for something at that price point, I like a lot of data. But after selling some stuff and brimming with liquid courage one night, I just went for it.

Have another OEL and Haburn incoming, so my leap of faith didn’t end with me face down in the gutter this time.

 

[FoolClone]

I think @Matt Jacobs said at one point his OEL was the best cutter he used. Which is not a numerically substantial amount of reviewing but I think it says a lot

 

[Matt Jacobs]

I think @Matt Jacobs said at one point his OEL was the best cutter he used. Which is not a numerically substantial amount of reviewing but I think it says a lot

I did and I still stand by that. I am on his custom wait list now

 

[Carbonara]

I did and I still stand by that. I am on his custom wait list now

I am too. last time I checked I still have another 4 months or so to go.

 

[Taurahe]

F.Vaz hasn't worked out for me so far. Took a chance on his Reddit flood special ko-gyuto (May 2024) and upgraded to his raptor k-tip when he offered it as an option in June.

He claims to have mailed my knife but I have yet to received any tracking information. He used to be pretty decent with answering emails (1-2 days turnaround) but it's been ~1 months since I last received an email from him and a week since I've actively reached out.

He's about to be hit with a credit card charge back if he doesn't at least answer my emails.

@fvaz What is going on with my knife?

Any follow up to this , by chance ???

 

[pitted_soul]

I did and I still stand by that. I am on his custom wait list now

I bought the one Matt had and I am on Oliver's list now too lol. They're great.

 

[pitted_soul]

I just had a LoF work out. A newer maker, Lustthal Workshop out of Slovenia had posted some knives on Reddit some. They looked promising but I had just been burnt on a new maker, so I was reluctant, but the price was too good. Well, I'm happy to report it is a fantastic blade. Luka has experience doing historical reproductions and had just started trying his hand at kitchen knives here recently. He modeled them after some makers he likes and the results are fantastic. I've already got a 2nd one being finalized.

Here is a link to a similar one that I got:

 

[VincenteFox]

I just had a LoF work out. A newer maker, Lustthal Workshop out of Slovenia had posted some knives on Reddit some. They looked promising but I had just been burnt on a new maker, so I was reluctant, but the price was too good. Well, I'm happy to report it is a fantastic blade. Luka has experience doing historical reproductions and had just started trying his hand at kitchen knives here recently. He modeled them after some makers he likes and the results are fantastic. I've already got a 2nd one being finalized.

Here is a link to a similar one that I got:

How much we talking?

 

[ThirdJewel]

Any follow up to this , by chance ???

They came through with the original purchase and the compensation knife. We are all squared away regarding the flood special knife purchase.

Besides some frustrations, I don't feel like I got cheated on my purchase. ~200USD for the original purchase + compensation knife is honestly an amazing value. I have some minor critiques but at this price point it would be splitting hairs.

 

[Taurahe]

Picked up a Gorse from the BST, and it's the first knife I actually regret purchasing. Fit and finish is absolutely awful.... As in , non-existent. The core is not centered on the cladding , so the cladding runs all the way to the edge on the left side, fitment of bolsters is terrible, fitment of handle scales is terrible , general feel of the knife is terrible, ... I'm stuck with it because I could not , in good conscious , sell it to someone else , so it's gonna go into a box to be forgotten about ..... Or just a wall decoration....... Or a thinning project maybe

 

[k3k]

For me, my best leap so far was Martin Kaanbjerg @ MK Knives out of Denmark. Bought a 190mm san mai ko-gyuto from his site just for fun, and it's been a delight. Real nimble but also really beautiful finish work and balance. His customer service is excellent, and he's awesome to work with.
I've already ordered a custom that's just about done, and have another in mind I'll get him to do at some point.

 

[aporigine]

For me, my best leap so far was Martin Kaanbjerg @ MK Knives out of Denmark. Bought a 190mm san mai ko-gyuto from his site just for fun, and it's been a delight. Real nimble but also really beautiful finish work and balance. His customer service is excellent, and he's awesome to work with.
I've already ordered a custom that's just about done, and have another in mind I'll get him to do at some point.

That parallels my tale of buying a knife from Lundbergs/Ahlström. Short gyuto and a total keeper.